Label adjusting means for label magazines



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`Iuly 10, 1962 Filed Oct. 16, 1959 s. T. CARTER 3,043,588

LABEL ADJUSTING MEANS EOE LABEL MAGAZINES 3. Sheets-Sheet 1 July 10,1962

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INVENToR. Q Jig/y2? kiefer M July 10, 1962 s. T. CARTER 3,043,588

LABEL. ADJUSTING MEANS FOR LABEL MAGAZINES v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct.16, 1959 f A/E l JNVENTOR .520957 Z Ziffer @cmww United rates.

' 3,043,588 LABEL ADJUSTING MEANS FR LABEL MAGAZINES Sidney T. Carter,Shrewsbury, Mass., assignor to Geo. J. Meyer Manufacturing Co., Cudahy,Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Get. 16, 1959, Ser. No. 846,97513 Claims. (Cl. 271-33) having other utilities in respect to its broaderaspects,

more specically. in 'any situationy wherein labels are held in a stackin a magazine holder and picked off one after another by the use of agum-coated picker.

Commercial labels are not accurate in size, varying within a range ofplus or minus 1/32 of an inch from nominal size. ln a given stack oflabels, as Placed in the label magazine, the variation in size isusually gradual. As the labels are taken one by one from the stack, theoperator of the machine must be on the alert to'adjust thelabel-positioning prongs of the magazine at frequent intervals in orderthat the labels may always be so closely coniined that they may notshift so as to become out of square as respects their intended position.In machines in which the endmost label is removed by a gum-coatedpicker, it is necessary that the stack of labels be capable of movementas a whole in response to the upward pressure exerted by the picker,since in the rst place, substantial pressure is necessary to insure aproper coating of the label, and secondly, it would be impractical so tolimit motion ofthe picker that it would make a mere tactual contact withthe endmost label. Customarily, the motion of the label stack, inresponse to the pressure exerted by the picker, is of the order of from1A, to 5/16 of an inch before the movement of the stack is positivelystopped. Although the stack is loaded, as by spring pressure, to urge itdownwardly after each respective upward motion, the effective loaddecreases as the stack diminishes in length. If, in order to prevent thelabels from twisting, the operator sets the label-positioning prongs toosnugly about the stack of labels, the stack may not return to itsinitial lowermost position after each picking operation. This isespecially troublesome when the magazine comprises compartments for aplurality of labels, from each of which a label is to be taken by acorresponding picker. For example, if one stack of labels is lower downin its magazine than the others, as the pickers approach, the

contact of one picker with the lowest stack of labels mayl prevent theother vpickers from applying sui'licient pressure to the labels in theirrespective magazine compartments to insure the proper application ofglue, with the result that some of the pickers may fail to withdrawtheir labels or may drop them after the labels are withdrawn.

It has been found that in the use of labels made of certain types ofpaper, the downward pressure of the label stack against the lowermostlabel may result, when attempting to withdraw the label, in theformation of nicks or tears' in the lowermost label at the places wherethe label rests upon the supporting hooks.

The above ditiiculties are substantially overcome by` the employmentofthe apparatus of the present invention, y wherein Vthe label magazinecomprises devices defining a compartment within which a stack of freelyseparable Patented July 10, 194:52

labels may be placed; movable, label-adjusting elements at one side, atleast, of said compartment; a picker device operative to withdraw labelsone at a time, in succession, from the lower end of the stack; mechanismoperative to actuate the picker, cycle-after-cycle; and apparatusoperative during each cycle temporarily to urge said labeladjustingelements toward the side of the stack.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will bepointed out in the following more detailed descriptoin and by referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein,

FIG. l is a plan view of a label holder or magazine embodying the novelfeatures of the present invention, showing the label-retaining prongs inhorizontal section;

FIG.,2 is a fragmentarysection, to larger scale than FIG. l, on the line2-2 of FIG. l;

FG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in vertical section,showing the label magazine of the present invention and adjacent partsof the labeling machine;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section on the line 4-4 of PIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an edge view, to larger scale, showing one of thelabel-positioning prongs according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the prong of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a sideelevation of one of the label-adjusting elements;

FIG. 8 is an end elevation of the casing of the motor for actuating thelabel-adjusting elements; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic elevation, partly in vertical A lustrated anddescribed in the copending application for United States Letters PatentSerial No. 551,012, tiled December 5, l955, by Sidney T. Carter, nowissued as Patent No. 2,940,630, dated .lune 14, 1956, although equallyapplicable to specifically different types of labeling machines, forinstance, that disclosed in United States patent to Carter No.2,528,944, dated November 4, 1950.

As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 9 of the `annexed drawings, themachine comprises a main shaft 119 which turns once for each cycle;ofoperation and which, by means of cams, gears, etc. mounted thereon,actuates various parts of the machine, among them an oscillatory pickershaft 187 which is rocked back and forth through a predetermined arconce during each cycle. The machine also'comprises a constantly movingconveyor having a horizontal rectilinear run C, upon which articles,4for example, bottles, stand as they -are moved through the disclosed insaid Patent No. 2,940,630 is arranged to apply a label simultaneously toeach of three successive bottles as they are moved along the conveyorpath, the

apparatus herein shown is, for simplicity 'of illustratim.,A

shown as arranged to apply labels to but two bottles simultaneously,`although it is to be understood that the present invention may beembodied in a machine which applies one label at a time or,alternatively, to a machine which applies labels simultaneouslyto anydesired number of articles. As shown in FIG.v 9, .the frameof themachine carries a fixed bar B extending lengthwise of the machine andwhich supports the base plate 20 (FIG. l) of the label holder. l

i is, in accordance with the arranged side by side. Thus the plate 20has two apertures 21 and 21a, each defining the lower end of acorresponding magazine compartment or cage, and side walls constitutedby elongate parallel bars or prongs.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, plate 2G is inclined to the vertical and atsuch an angle that, as the picker P (which may be of the ysliding bladetype, such as disclosed in the United States patent to Holm, No.1,901,101, datedV March 14, 1933, or which'may be of other customaryItype), swings upwardly to the label-picking position (FIG. 3 its labelcontacting face is parallel to the surface of the lowermost label L ofthe stack S in the magazine compartment. It will be understood thatthere is a separat-e picker P` corresponding to each magazinecompartment, .but that lall of these pickers are mounted upon the sameoscillatory support T carried by the picker shaft 187 and are suppliedwith gum, in conventional manner, asjdisclosed for example in theabove-mentioned Patents 2,940,630 or 2,528,944. As here illustrated, byway of example, each oil the apertures 2l and 21a is approximatelyrectangular, keach having opposite parallel side edges E1 and E2, andrear and `front edges E3 and E4, respectively. k

While, as here illustrated, the apertures 21 and 21a are side-by-sidehorizontally, it will be understood that, if the magazine is to delivera body and neck label, for

y instancefor, application to a single bottle, one of the apertures willthen'be to the rear of the other. Associated withY each respectiveaperture is a group of elongate parallel rigid bars or"prongs,, the barsor prongs of each group collectively defining a chamber or compartmentfor the reception of a stack of labels. Since the groups of prongsdening each respective magazine compartment are alike in constructionand arrangement, it is necessary herein only to describe in detail oneof these groups, for example, that associated with the aperture 21 (FIG.l).

This group of prongs comprises theprong 23 at the rear edge E3 of theaperture, the prongs 24, 25 and 26 at the frontedge E4 of the aperture,the prongs'27 and 27a at the edge E1 of the aperture, and the prongs 28and 28a atthe edge E2 of the aperture. It may be noted that the prong 23and the group of prongs 24,125, 26 are centrally located with respect tothe edges E3 and E4, while the prongs of each of the pairs 27, 27a and2S, 28a, are spacedl apart and symmetrically located with respect to thefront to rear dimension of the aperture, the prong 28 being directlyopposite prong 27 and the prong ZSabeing directly opposite the prong27a.

Each of the prongs 23, 27, 27a',-28 and 28a and the group comprisingtheprongs 24, 2S, 26 is mounted upon a corresponding individuallyadjustable carrier such, for example, as the carriers-30 and 31, each ofthe several carriers being adjustably mounted on the plate 20'so that-they may .be adjusted to dene compartments of diiferent transversedimensions.

Y That part of each prong which is secured to the correspondingadjustable carrier is substantially rigid. Desirably the prongs 23, 27and 28 are shorter, that is to say, their upper ends areat a lower levelthan the upper endsof the'other prongs to facilitate placing a stack oflabels in the, compartment.

The construction thus far described in substantially con- 6 ventional inthis art,

.The lower part of each of, the prongs 23, 27 and 27a present'invention,` independent of its normally fixed upper part and movablerelatively thereto. Thus, as shown in FIG. 2 for example, the lowerportion 270 of prong 27 is pivotally connected at 32 at fits upper end.to the prong `27 so that the lower'end of the part 270 is capable ofswinging inwardly toward the label' stack.` YSuch inwardmotion of theIlower end of the part 270l is limited by a pin 33` fixed in the prong27 and passing loosely througha hole 32a in the part 270. The diameterof this hole 32a is such that the arc of swing of the part 270 isslight. When in normal position as shown in FIG. 2, the'inner edge ofpart 270 is aligned with the inner edge of part 27, .the parts beingnormally held in this relative position by a spring 34 FIG. 2) whoseopposite ends bear respectively against the prong 27 and the part 270;It may be noted (FIGS. 5 and 6) that the prong 27has a verticallyextending slot 27x for the reception of the part 270.

The plate 20 (FIG. l) is provided with holes 3S for the reception ofscrews whereby motor devices 36 and 36a are suspended from the plate 20.f

The mot-or device 36 comprises a single cylinder within which isarranged a piston (like the piston 38, FIG. 2 which actuates thelabel-adjusting element associated with or forming a part of the prong27). A similar motor device 36mV (FIG. 1) isassociated with the rearprong of the left-hand magazine.

The motor device 36a (FIG. 1) has a casing 36x (FIGS. 2 and 8) designedto provide two pairs of cylinders, one pair, for a example thercylindersD and D1 (FIG. 8) receivingvpistons 38 which actuate the labeladjustingelements associated with the prongs 27 and 27a respectively of theright-hand magazine. The other pair of cylinders contains pistons foractuating the label-adjusting elements at the right-hand side of thelefthand magazine.

The outer end of each piston is slotted to receive a n38a at the outeredge of the corresponding label,- adjusting element. As shown in FIG. 2,the outer edge of the iin 38a inclines downwardly and outwardly. If themagazine -were designed to receive but one stack of labels,1

the motor 36a would be provided with but a single pair of cylinders.

The several cylinders are supplied with pressure uid,

for example, compressed air, by means of a manifold M (FIG. 1) whichreceives the pressure iluid from a suitable source through a pipe 39(FIG 1), the supply of iiuid being controlledV by a three-way solenoidvalve 40 (FIG. 9), which is actuated by a limit switch 4 1 having` anarm '42 contacting a cam 43 on the main shaft 119. The cam is solcontoured that as'the picker enters the magazine compartment and lifts`the label stack from the hooks H, air is admitted to each motorcylinder, thereby swinging the lower ends of the several label-adjustingelements 27h inwardly so that the inner edges of these elements areinclined inwardly and downwardly relative to the chamber wall. When thepicker completes its upward motion and starts to retreat from vthemagazine,

v carrying with it the lowermost label fromthe stack, the

parts 270 still remain in the position to which they were movedby themotor, thus retaining the stack in the elevated position until the cam43 has turned through a predetermined angle, for example as illustratedin FIG. 3,

through an angle of 212, whereupon the airis exhausted from thecylinders and the label-adjusting elements270 are returned to theirnormal position by the springs 34, thus allowing the label stack to dropuntil the lower label of the stack rests upon the upper surfaces of thehook members H (FIG. 7) at the lower ends of some at least of theprongs, these hooks being conventional and of suficient dimensions toprevent the smallest labelcomprised inthe-stack `from dropping outthrough the aperture 21.

However, while the stack is raised and supported by theY i inwardlyinclined member 270, the tree margin of the single label adhering to thedownwardly moving picker flexes readily so as to pass the hooks Hwithout tearing. r At each successive cycle, the labeling adjustingelements 270 function as above described, and thus gradually lsquare upthe labels in the lower part ofthe stack so that eventhough some yot thelabels be :of a size such that they may move tranversely within thelabel compartment, lthe repeated operation of the label-adjustingelements is such as to urge all of the labels transversely into contactwith I the fixed prongs 28 and 28a and the group of fixed prongs 24, 25and 26 at the opposite sides of the label compartment from the severallabel-adjusting elements. In actual practice it has ybeen found that thelabels constituting at least the lower halt inch of the stack are awaysaccurately squared with reference to the fixed prongs.

While label-adjusting elements have here been shown as located at twoadjacent sides of the label magazine, it is contemplated that it may besufficient, under certain conditions, to provide such a device ordevices at but one side of the magazine.

As here illustrated (FIG. 3), the magazine is provided with the usualdevices for applying pressure to the top of the label stack, including aplate 50 which rests upon the uppermost label in the stack, this platebeing fixed to the lower end of a rod 51 which is capable of sliding ina guideway provided in the fixed supporting member 52 carried by lthemachine frame. A spring 53 embracing the upper part of the rod 52 andwhose lower end rests upon a collar 5ftfixed to the rod and whose upper`end engages a so-called lip S5, normally urges the plate against thelabel stack. The lip 55 is provided with an angular portion 56 having anaperture through which passes a xed square rod 57. When a fresh stack oflabels is placed in the magazine, the lip -55 is adjusted upon the rodS7 so as to 4provide a positive stop to limit upward motion of the rod.The lip 5S will not move along the rod 57 so long as upward pressure isexerted against it, but is manually adjusted so as to permit the rod 51to move upwardly through a distance of from'l:f to `5/16 of an inch inresponse to the upward pressure exerted by the picker against thelowermost label in the stack, the spring 53 normally returning the stackto its lowermost position when the picker retreats. However, as thestack becomes shorter, the upper end of the rod 51 will move away fromthe lip 55, although the spring 53 will continue to press upwardlyagainst the latter and so prevent the latter from moving down on the rod57. However, when the stack becomes so short that the spring 53 exertsbut little downward force, and if the prongs have been adjusted tooclosely, the stack may fail to move down to its lowermost position whenthe picker retreats. l

By the present arrangement, in which provision is made for automaticallyadjusting the labels during the operation, it is not necessary to setthe prongs so closely as is often done and thus Ithe `danger of thejammingof the stack in its uppermost position is minimized. On the otherhand, 'by temporarily holding the stack in its uppermo-st position bythe action of the elements 270 during the picking operation, thelowermost label is freed from the n downward pressure normally exertedby the follower plate 50 so that fdanger of tearing the label, as it iswithdrawn by the picker, is avoided.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has herein beendescribed by way of example, it is to be understood that allmodifications of the disclosed apparatus which fall within the terms ofthe annexed claims are to be regarded as within the purview oftheinvention.

fixed parts defining two adjacent walls of said chamber, at least onemovable label-adjusting .part being arranged at the opposite side of thechamber from each of said fixed walls, respectively, each of saidlabel-adjusting parts comprising asmooth label-engaging edge normallyextending substantially parallel tothe height of the stack and solocated as to contact the edges of those labels which constitute thelower portion only of the stack, and power-actuated devices operative soto actuate said labeladjusting parts as to shift edgewise any labels,within the lower portion of the stack, which have become misplacedthereby to square them up by contactwith the fixed wallso the magazine.

l3. In combination, in a labeling machine which comprises a labelmagazine including elements operative to define a chamber within which astack of freely separable labels may tbe placed, stack-supporting hooksupon which the lowermost label of the stack normally rests, a pivotallysuspended support for each hook, each 'support having an elongatelabel-contacting, smooth inner edge abovethe hook, said edge normallyextending substantially parallel to the height of the stack, meansyieldably urging the stack downwardly toward said supporting hooks, agumcoated picker, means operative to move thepicker into contact withthe lowermost label in said chamber and, by upward pressurethereagajnst, to elevate the entire stack within the chamber, and meansoperative to swing said pivoted hooksupports inwardly, as the stackrises and temporarilyto retain them inthe Vlatter position whereby, bycontact of the smooth inner edges ofthe hook-supports with the edges ofthose labels which constitute the lower part of the stack, to retain theVstack in elevated position while the picker is retreating from themagazine and withdrawing the lowermost label from the stack, thedownwardly and inwardly inclined smooth edges of the hook-supportsacting as cams, as the picker retreats from the chamber, to urge thelabels within the lower part of the stack Vedgewise toward the oppositewall of the chamber.

4. In combination, a label magazine comprising normally stationary barsdefining the sides of a chamber within which a stack of freely separablelabels may be placed, `supports upon which the lower labels -of thestack, so placed, may rest, a gum-coated pickervoperative toenter thechamber and lift the stack and then to retract and withdraw a label fromthe lower end of the stack, mechanism operative to .actuate the picker,ycycle after cycle, movable label-adjusting elements located at the lowerends of th/ose chamber-defining bars which are at one side of saidchamber, and power-actuated means operative,

during each successive label-picking phase ofvsaid cycle, so to disposesaid adjusting elements that as the stack descends, following theretreating picker, the labels at the lower portion only of the stack areurged toward those bars which are at the opposite side of the chamber. f

5. A label magazine for use in a machine which comprises a cam-actuated,gum-coated.y picker operative to remove labels one at a time from thebottom of a stack of freely separable labels, said magazine comprisingsubstantially parallel, normally stationary bars collectively definingthe side walls lof `a chamber for the Areception of a stack of labels, alabel-adjusting element.

- and being capableof movement from a normal position,

whereiny said edges are parallel to the side wall of the Y chamber,inwardly with-respect 'to said chamber. toA a with said fixed wallthereby to square up the relatively movable labels in the lower part ofthe magazine.

2. In combination, -in a labeling machine which comprises a labelmagazine having a chamber within which Aa stack of -freely separablelabels may be placed, normally position wherein their label-'contacting'edges incline inwardlyand Vdownwardly',and power-actuated meansoperative so toposition said label-adjusting elements that said edgesare inclined inwardlyrand downwardly during the'withdrawal of the,lowermost label lfrom the` stack by the picker.

spaansel 6.V A label magazine for use in a machine which comprises acam-actuated, gum-coated picker operative to -remove labels one at atime from the bottom of a stack of freely separableflabels, saidmagazine comprising substantially parallel, normally stationary, butrelatively adjustable bars; collectively defining the side walls of achamber for the reception of a stack of freely separable labels, alabel-adjusting element pivotally attached to the lower end of each ofvthose bars which are located yat two adjacent sides respectively, of thechamber, each of said-,elements having a label-contacting edge which isnormallyalignedr with the inner edge of the bar with which it isassociated, and power-actuated means, acting in timed relation to themotion of the picker, operative to move each adjusting element inwardly,just prior to the withdrawal of a label by the picker, to a position inwhich its label-contacting edge is inclined downwardly and toward theopposite wall of the chamber, whereby, as the picker retreats Vfrom thechamber, the labels at the lower part of the stack, by engagementwithsaid inclined edges, are urged. toward the opposite wall of thechamber.l f

i 7. A label magazine-for usein a machine which comprises a gum-coatedpicker operative to remove labels one at la time from the bottom of astack of freely separable labels, said magazine comprising substantiallyparallel, normaly stationary bars having substantially rectilinear edgeswhich collectively define the side walls of a chamber for the receptionof a stack of labels, at

adjusting elements toward the opposite sides, respectively,

of said chamber during each label-picking phase of the kcycle ofoperation of the machine.

- 8.*In combination with a label magazine for use in ak f machine which,comprises a' cam-actuated, gum-coated picker operative to enter themaga-zine, lifta stack of freely separable labels disposed within themagazine and retreat from the magazine, taking with it the lo-wermostlabel, p'arts'tformingV the -side walls of the magazine charnber, atleast two movable label-adjustingelements at lthe lower portion of oneside of said chamber, each having a label-contacting edge and astack-supporting hook at its lower end, a spring urging eachlabel-adjusting elementA outwardly, stop means so limiting Vsuch outwardmovement that the label-contacting edge of each adjusting element isnormally iiush withthe inner surface of the chamber wall, andpower-actuated means operative'sim-ultaneously to move said elements,just prior to the retreat of the pickerifrom the magazine, to a positionwherein their label-contacting edges incline downwardly and .toward theVopposite wall of the chamber, whereby, as

Ythe stack descends, following the retreating picker, said inner edgesof the adjusting element, by contact with the edges of 'misplacedindividual labels at the lower part of the stack, square up said labelswith the opposite-wall of A Y .the chamber.

- 9'. 'In combinatiomin a labeling machine, a label magazine comprisingsubstantially parallel, normally stationary, spaced elongate rigid barshaving rectilinear inner edges which collectively dene the side walls ofa chambei' for thereceptionK-of a stack of freely separable labels, 4anelongate rigid member piVotallyattached, at its upper vend, to theylower-end of each of certain, atleast, of said v bars, leach of said'members having a substantially recti- Iinearrlabel-contacting inneredge andhaving aninwardly Adirected stack-supportinghook vat its loweren d, spring means tending to swing each of said hooked membersoutwardly, and stop means so arranged as to limit such outward movementso that the inner edge of each of said hooked members is normallyaligned with the inner surface'of a side wall of the chamber withv theirhooks in stack-supporting position, 4a gum-coated picker for withdrawinglabels from the magazine, means for advancing the picker into themagazine chamber so as, by contact with the lowerrnost label of thestack, to lift the entire stack from the supporting hooks,power-actuated means operative to swing the hooked members inwardly asthe stack rises so that their label-contacting edges incline inwardlyand downwardly and temporarily to hold them so as to maintain the stackin elevated position by engagement of the stack with the inner edges of`said hooked members as the picker retreats, carrying the lowerrnostlabel withit, the margins of said lowermost label being free fromconstraint, during retreat of the picker, so that they pass said hookswithout beingtorn, said power-actuated means being operative, as thepicker retreats, to permit the hooked members to swing outwardly tonormal position so that the stack drops onto said hooks.

10. 'In combination, a label magazine comprising a supporting platehaving a substantially rectangular aperture which defines the lower endof Ia rectangular chamber for Ithe reception of a stack `of freelyseparable, rectangular labels, 'and means operative alternately toA liftthe stack and permit it to drop, a plunality of substantially parallel,normally stationary, spaced rigid vbars collectively defining the sidewalls of said chamber, each of two side walls, at least, of the chamberbeing constituted by a pair of said bars, each bar of one of said pairshaving extending downwardly from its lower end an elongatelabeladjusting element Whose upper end is pivotally connected to the barwith which it is associated, a spring and a limiting stop whereby eachadjusting element is normally positioned with its inner edgelalignedwith that of the corresponding bar, each adjusting element being capableof swinging inwardly toward the label stack until its label-contactingedge is inclined inwardly and downwardly, and power-actuated meansoperative simultaneously to swing both label-adjusting elements towardthe bars -of the opposite pair respectively, just before the label stackis permitted to drop, whereby contact of the edges of displaced labelsin the lower part of the stack with the inclined edges of said adjustingelements causes the labels to shift transversely until they are squareAwith the edges ofthe aperture inthe supporting palate.

1l. A label magazine according to claim 4, wherein the means for movingsaid label-adjusting elements are fluid pressure motors, eachcorresponding to one respective adjusting element, each motor having apiston which engages the outer edge of the corresponding adjustingelement, and -automatically acting means for supplying pressure fluid toeach 'of said motors. 1

l2. A magazine according to claim l0, for use lin a machine whichincludes a gum-coated picker and mech-- anism for actuating thepickeronce for each label-applying cycle and wherein the supportingplate has la plurality of substantially rectangular apertures, each,respectively, defining the lower end of la rectangular charnber for aIstack of freely separable labels and wherein two opposite sides of eachrespective chamber' are constituted by a pair of said bars, each bar ofone of said pairs having extending downwardly from its lower end lamovable label-'adjustingr element, and wherein a fluid pressure `motoris providedpfor moving each of said label-adjusting elements from aninoperative to van operative position, and mean-s for 'supplyingpressure fluid simultaneously to each of the several motors during eachmachine cycle.

13. A multiple-compartment label magazine for use in a machine whichcomprises la shaft which turns once yfor each machine cycle, gum-coatedpickersoperative siniultaneously to enter the respective magazinecompartments and to lift label stacks disposed within thelabel-receiving compartments of the magazine and then to retreat, carrying labels with them, said magazine comprising la supporting platehaving a plurality of `apertures therein, each defining the `lower end`of the corresponding compartment, at least one side Wall of eachrespective compartment being dened -by the parallel rectilinear inneredges of normally stationary bars, la movable labeleadjusting elementextending downwardly from the lower end of each of said bars, yeachadjusting element having a label-engaging edge, yieldable means whichnormally positions each -a'djusting element so that its label-engagingedge is aligned with the inner edge of the corresponding bar, motormeans operative to move each such label-adjusting element inwardly to aposition wherein the label-adjusting edge of said element is inclinedinwardly and downwardly toward the opposite wall, motor control means,including a cam on said shaft, operative to cause the motor means tomove said `adjusting elements inwardly as the pickers,

10 i in entering the magazine compartment, lift the respective stacks oflabels, said control means being operative lto keep the motor meansenergized and thereby hold the ylabel stacks in elevated position untilthe pickers start to retreat, carrying labels with them, and then todeenergize the motor means thereby to permit the `severallabel-adjusting element-s to move out relatively to the chamber yso that.the `edges of the lowermost labels may slide downwardly in contact withthe inner edges of said adjusting elements asthe respective l-abelstacks drop.

References Cited in the tile of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,335,556 Clark Mar. 30, 1920 2,257,785 'Carter Oct. 7, 1941 2,335,064Kvabel Nov. 23, 1943 2,494,186 Magnusson Jan. 10, 1950 2,639,149 Hamptonet al May 19, 1953 2,914,323 Sramek Nov. 24, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CGRRECTION Patent NQ. 3,043,588 July l0, 1962Sidney T. Carter It is hereby certified that error appears in the above4numbered patent requiring correction and that the `:seid Letters Patentshould read as corrected below.

Column 5l lines 61 and 62, strike out ="freely separable".

Signed and sealed this 25th day of December 1962.

(SEAL) Attest: 5 l

DAVID L.`LADD ERNEST w. swIDER l r Commissioner of Patents AttestingOfficer

